IF you delight to read the passages of Love, and to sée how affection soon cooles when the little smith Cupid doth cease to blow with his amorous Bellows, you may here read this History of Thomas Stukley a Gentle­man, a Lover and a Souldier. Fortune brought him first acquainted with the one­ly Daughter of Sir Thomas Curtis, whose name was Nell; she had at that time ano­ther Suter one Vernon, of a noble soul, and gentle Nature; but he finding that his friend Tho: Stukley was in love with Nell and beloved by her, their affections being mutuall, and state equall, he expressing therein the part of a worthy & noble friend, left the sole happiness of his heart to his friend Tho: Stukley resigning up his right and interest unto him, and afterwards to smother his discontents, and beat off the re­membrance of his forsaken Swéet-heart, he travells beyond Sea, so at once to lose her name and memory Now Stukley being them an entertained to his friends felicity, both by the father, and mother, and beloved [Page] by Nell: after some exchange of Ceremo­nies about the contract, some chiding of her for her choice, which are usuall matters; Stukley was received by Sir Thom. Curtis and his wife, for their son, and by Nell for her wished husband. Suppose now their wed­ding was desired to be kept with great cost and solemnity, and in the mean time the promised Bride fed upon the expectation of the wedding night.

Chap. II. How old Stukley came up to London to see his son, and how young Stukley acquainted his father with his intended Marriage.

FAme having reported unto old Master Stukley, that his Son had gotten into the favour and affection of Sir Thomas Curtis's daughter, he comes presently up to London in all haste, and first he goes to visit his son young Stukley at the Temple, and to come upon him like an old Fox unawares, that he might take him in the security of all his youthfull negligence; so comming to his Chamber, he knocks, and finds no body within but his Page, who had a ready wit to give his old Master an answer in his young Masters behalf, at last Stukley bids his Page deliver him the key of his Study, but the Page, to save his Masters credit, told him that he ever carried it about with him, but at last the old man péeping about found the door standing open, and there dis­covers [Page] his Sons books, which were these following, Long-Sword, Short-Sword and Buckler, Foxes & Bilboes Blades, but never a Candle-stick but an old Hilt of a broken sword, and the bottom of a Temple Pot, with a little sarsenet in't, did serve him for a Candlestick; at last comes in Stuk­ley not suspecting that his Father was there, but at last perceiving that he had béen taking an Inventory of his Books, and House-hold-stuff, he knéeles down to re­ceive his Fathers blessing, who at first be­gins to scold at him, but he puts him out with other questions; at last he begins to come over him with honest wholsom coun­sell, upbraiding him with those that were of his age, setting thē before him as examples of good Students and thrifty young Gentle­men, but Stukley told his father that Iohn-a-Nokes, & Iohn-a-Stiles & he could not coten, and that the French Law was worse than buttered Mackerell full of bones; at last he plainly told his Father, that in stead of scratching things out of a Standish all a mans life time he had found out a nearer cut to preferment, which was, that he was in possibility to marry Alderman Curtis his Daughter, and therefore if his father would but promise the Alderman that he should make her a Ioynture, all would be done, for he had his daughters good will already: Old Stukley conceiving the plot it being a [Page] matter of gain, where by his son should ob­tain a wife worth forty thousand pounds, he presently consents to his son, who had already tampered the Wench wrought the Alderman and his wife, & now perswaded his father to assist to this matter of money, and so you must expect his Marriage.

Chap. III. How Stukley was married, and how on his VVedding-day he fell out with one Her­bert, about some disgracefull speeches, and how Vernon went to travell.

NOw came the wedding day, and the Bride like a spreading Rose opened all her beauties, desiring to be gathered; Stuke­ley, that had put on his best Apparel, was ready to do the service of a Bridegroom, wherwith he had béen acquainted and was no Novice in Cupids wayes; but as the Bride sat simpering at dinner, and the old folks conceiting their Daughters happi­ness, it chanced that a suddain accident disturbed Hymens Feast, some words had past between one M. Herbert and Stukley, Herbert prophesying to this effect that Ald. Curtis had undone his daughter by this marriage; Stukley being angry hereat pre­sently challenged Harbert, & they presently rose from the table, but were at last by the Alderm. perswasions pacified & the brides tears, who loath to lose her Stukley, and to be divorc'd from him on the wedding-day, [Page] wrought so with Herbert, that their quarrel was deferred until a fitter opportunitie, when they might both question and decide the former injury; so the wound given to Stukley was for a while closed up, and the wedding went forward to the Aldermans contentment, & the old mothers great joy, who was glad in her daughters behalf; and now Candles were lighted, Supper was served in, & after many dishes had been ri­fled, and a Banquet wholly destroyed by the Guests, after many Ceremonies, the long delayed night growing on, Stukley & his beloved Nell were brought into their VVedding-Chamber, and the Bride like a Sacrifice laid into her bed, while merry T. Stukley taught to see fear and desire expres­sing themselves in the blushes of Nells cheekes; and now the Curtaines being drawn all the company left them, and what followed must be left to your imaginations.

Chap. IV. How Vernon resolved to go into Ireland with Herbert and another Captain, and how Stukley paied all his Creditors.

NOble and brave-minded Vernon. hav­ing crost himself in love, by giving a­way the treasure of his soul, and now droop­ing like a shaddow, having lost the sub­stance which he followed, to ease his dis­content, and change his mind, and forget Nell, fresh yet in his remembrance, re­solves [Page] to travell, and by changing his aire to change his mind, and thereupon imparts his purpose and design to two friends of his, Hamdon & Ridley, they with many pow­erful reasons disswaded him, all which he answers, and by admitting no argument to the contrary, so farr prevailed with his friends, that they unwillingly consented to his desire, which was to travel, and first to goe into Ireland with Master Herbert & an­other Captain; Herbert going also to the warrs, and intending if ever he met Stukley he would draw out their former quarrell in characters of blood, & be revenged of Stuk­ley, and with these purposes & intents Ver­non and Harbert went to the warrs in Ire­land: now Stukeley having performed his first prize on the Wedding night with his kind Nell Alderman Curtis his daughter, was somewhat prettily abated in his wild fancies, and had béen humbled by his own insolent spirit, whereupon the wives porti­on was the next Virgin must be ransackt; he had gathered all the Flowers and Roses which Love and Poetry can imagine, and now he came to the golden Apples of his wives Portion, and first he had occasion to begin with some old debts, which his youth in the dayes of his Batchelorship had run into; and first there comes to visit him a crew of old debtors, namely Arthur Cross the Mercer, John Spring the Vintner, Wil. [Page] Sharp the Cutler, Thump the Bucklemaker. George Hazard the Tennis-kéeper, Henry Crack Fencer, and Jeffery B [...]urt Bailieffe of Finsbury, all these came after him with Bills and Notes in their hands to visit him in the health of a good Fortune; Stukley see­ing such a number of Citizens and trading fellowes came to claime monies before he was scarce warme in his new Mar­riage, he being of a generous spirit, and accounting money but the admiration of dunghill Clownes and Peasants, present­ly summons all his Creditors, and makes his old father Curtis do a deed of conscience & pay to Mr. Cross the Mercer for Silks & Velvets two hundred pounds, to M. Spring the Vintner for Tavern Suppers & Wine thirty pounds; to Sharp for Bilboes Foxes and Toledo Blades forty Markes, to Mr. Thump the Buckle-ma [...]r for broad lined Bucklers and steele Pikes, fifteen pound; to Hazard the Tennis-keeper, for Tennis Balls, thirteen pound; to Crack the Fencer for forfeits & venies given, thirty crowns, and to the Bailieffe of Finsbury for Rapes and Bloodsheds in the Fields, five Marks. Old Curtis having payed these severall debts & legacies, bequeathed to vanity and youths folly, put the old man into a kind of rage, and wounded his baggs so, that the old mans conscience smarting in the behalfe thereof, he began to cry out upon Stukley, [Page] and to tell him as old Fathers will do, that his daughter was a destroyed creature, and quite overthrown, & he a Prodigal; where­upon Stukley informed him of the equity of the action in paying his debts; and that see­ing he had satisfied his daughters whole sum of love in a round manner, therefore he ought to satisfie these pedling debts, but this could not appease the wrong he had done old Curtis, sensible in a deep manner of the payment of these debts; whereupon Stukley left him to make a tedious com­plaint to his old wife Lady Curtis, who ap­prehended the matter with the like passion, and both of them joyn together to make old Stukley out of conceit with his mad Son Tom Stukley; and the conclusion of all their accusation ended concerning Tom Stukleys prodigality, which his father strove to ex­cuse, but would not defend, though he knew his high mind and contempt of money, but thought he, he is my own son, that prefers credit in a good cause, before coyn, & makes a Wife but a piece of vendible hous-hold-stuff that may be converted to a proper mans uses; but he dissembled with the old Alderman Curtis and his wife, thinking their hearts were drowned in the baggs that Tom Stukley had emptied and they feared this was but the beginning of the miseries of their daughters marriage.

Chap. V. How Stukley, though disswaded by his wife his Father-in-law Alderman Curtis, and old Stukley his own Father, would yet needs go to the warrs in Ireland.

STout Stukley having begun the new life of marriage with a brave act in paying his Creditors with part of his wives por­tion, was now enflamed with a new de­sire, and had entertained a fresh affection to honour, pettycoat-fancies were blown and stale, things of common enjoying, & there­fore now his thoughts were wholly fixed on the wars, no soft and gentle whisperings which his wife could in vent, though mix'd with wanton willing kisses, could detain him in her embraces, he must away, and though the power of Love commanded him to stay, yet valour drew him to the warrs then maintained in Ireland; when his wife perceived his purpose, she set all the spells of Love to work, and conjured him a bed; not to go to the warrs, but he answered all her objections, and told her, that though he should leave her poor he intending to take with him all her Iewels, and the mo­ney which he received for her portion, yet both their fathers would maintain her to her own content, so that after many ex­changes of loving kindnesses, not here to be repeated, she sought with tears to make him more soft and compassionate; will you be gone said she after thrée dayes? are we [Page] scarce warme in love, & shall we be divorc'd again before our joyes are scarcely per­fected? tepetitions in Loves School make the best Scholars, and when you go I shall forget that new Lesson which you taught me, for when you are gone I must live widdowed of all former comfort, therefore recall that hasty word, and since you had my heart, and cannot give back what you have received, stay with me, in me enjoy the world, in me behold the warrs, Ile be your foe, yet never kill you, unless it bee with kindness. VVhen she had breathed forth this sad complaint unto Stukley, hee sighed and said, Nell, your complements are good, and such as speak your heart, but I must go, therefore give me thy consent, & then I shall depart with a chearful Re­solution to the wars in Ireland. When they were agreed, and after much debating of the matter, had consented to a separation; for a time, his Father-in-law Curtis, & his own Father old Stukley set upon him with many old mouldy reasons, intending to disswade him from going to the warrs, but he soone gave him an answer, & made them soone to understand the power of valour, whereof the poor old Dons were insensible, loving security before honour, and so Stukley hav­ing now fealed a farewell on Nells lips, & took his leave of his two old Dads, carried over a company of Souldiers to the warrs.

Chap. VI. How Stukley met with Vernon and Herbert in Ireland, and how he was shut out of the Town by Herbert, Governor of the Town for the English.

THe Wars continuing in Ireland, Stuk­ley, as was said, went over with a brave Company of souldiers to aide them against the Irish Rebels, and comming to a strong English Town called Dundalke, summon­ed them to the walls with his Drumme; whereupon presently appeared Vernon, Gainsford, and other Souldiers, and at last Harbert who was Governour of the town; and at their first interview, griefe & anger strove in their breasts, Vernon was sorry to see him that had robbed him of the jewell of his love & life Nell Ald. Curtis his daughter and to increase his sorrow▪ Stukley's Lieu­tenant delivered him a Letter, wherein he understood from one W. Mallery, that Stuk­ley had used his wife unkindly, wherewith Vernon acquainted Stukley & told him that it seemed he did not love his wife, but was unkind, and did not make much of her, whereupon Stukley told hm that he made very much of her, for he had made away her portion and plate, her jewels and rings, and all her cloathes except one poor gown, & he that can make more of one poor wife, let him take her: Vernon, hearing this was much grieved at Stukley, that he should use her so unkindly, & to avoide the hated sight [Page] of Stukley, he resolved to travell into Spain or France, and leave the warrs; after this Harbert the Governour commanded Stuk­ley to bring his company into the town, where being entred, he begins to renew his quarrel with Harbert, about words spo­ken in England, which were, that old Sir Tho Curtis had cast away his daughter up­on him, but being ready to fight, the enemy charged against the walls, whereupon they were fain to desist and leave off, to make a sally sorth upon the Irish, whom they soon put to flight & pursued, retiring afterwards again; but Stukley and his company drawn on with the hope of booty, pursued the Irish so far that the City gates were shut, at last Stukley returning with a great booty of Cows gotten from the Irish, Harbert, Go­vernour of the Town, would not suffer Stukley to be admitted within the gates, hoping the Irish would come down and cut both Stukleys throat and all his souldiers; this affront Stukley took in such dudgeon, waiting opportunity to be revenged on Harbert, that be gave all the former booty to his souldiers, except thirty horses or hob­bies, which he sent aboard, and giving his souldiers a hundred pound to drink for his sake, he went aboard his ship to try his fortune in some other Country.

Chap. VII. How Stukley denied the Governour of Cales [Page] in Spain five of his horses, and was by the Governor committed to prison, & how the Governors wife fell in love with him.

FOrtune being willing to try the brave and generous mind of Stukley, put such winds into the sailes of his ships, as drave him perforce into a harbor upon the Spa­nish Coast; being here arrived, notice was given to the Governor; & five of his horses demanded as a present for the Governour, which he denied & therupon being brought before him, he told him that he should not have a hair of one of his hobbies, nor a nail of one of them, though he would draw it with his teeth. Stukley, and the Spanish Govern­our being thus at debate, the Govornours wife being then present, & beholding Stuk­ley, began to entertain a thought of love towards him, and in her mind silently com­mended him for a brave proper man, wish­ing she could excuse his rudeness towards her husband the proud Spaniard; at last, Stukley still contesting with the Govern­our, he both seized upon his ship & horses, and committed him to prison, intending to inform the King of Spain of Stukleys, stout carriage; he being carried away, the Governours Lady began to perswade her husband in his behalfe, and to work him to a milder temper towards Stukley, but all in vain, wherupon she commanded the Provost that was ready to carry him to the Mar­shallsey, [Page] to bring him to her, and when he was come into her presence, she began to perswade him to submit unto her husband, but that not prevailing, she offer'd him fur­ther help, insomuch that Stukley had ob­tained one of his Hobbies, and leave to ride unto the King of Spaines Court in her hus­bands absence, promising upon the honour of an Englishman, word to return by six a clock in the evening, whereupon the Spa­nish Lady took his word, and he repaired to the Spanish Court.

Chap. VIII. How Stukley went to the King of Spain, and returned again according to his promise to the Spanish Lady.

VAliant Stukley, being mounted upon one of his Hobbies, posts away to the K. of Spains Court, and, being admitted to his presence, lets his Majesty understand how that he coming to Cales Don Herando his Majesties Governour, had there attached both his Ship and all therein, together with thirty Hobbies brought to present unto his Majesty and had clapt him in prison from whence he had by good fortune escaped, to bring his Majesty acquainted with his wrongs and injuries: Now all the while that Stukley was gone to the Court, the Governors wife and the provost were in a great perplexity, lest Herando (for so was the Governour called) should discover [Page] the matter, & especially because he had com­mand that he should be brought before him, the Provost knew not what to say or do, for he knew Stukley was out of his reach, but his wife whose wit was sharpned by love & fear, told her frowning husband, that the English Captain was changed by his im­prisonment & his high mind come down, be­ing willing to offer submission if accepted, & was penning an humble Petition to that effect: this pleased the Spaniards ambition, being glad to make vertue stoop unto his pride: at last he would needs fetch Stukley himself and commanded the Provost to give him the Key of the Iayl, but then his wife with her womanish wit told him that there were many sick in Prison, and therefore it would be dangerous for his Lordship to venture in amongst them; Thus did shée séek to stay his furious anger, & to keep all matters safe from his knowledge; at last when she had spent her last excuse, and that she knew not how to devise another, in comes Stukley in gives & fetters led by the Provost, which comforted the poor Lady, but the Governour expecting submission, found nothing less, but began to threaten him with death when presently a Marshall arrives sent from the K. of Spain to appre­hend him & bring him before him: where­upon he began to flatter Stukley, protest­ing that all he had done was but to try his [Page] fortitude & valour, and Stukley desiring the Lady to let him know how he might grati­fie her love she answered that vertue was reward enough unto it self, giving him a Scarf to wear also for her sake, which he with complement received, and so he and Herando went to the Court where he gave all his thirty Hobbies to the King of Spain, which were so graciously by him received, that he was much estéemed by the King. Now it happened that Vernon whom he had made to wear the willow-Garland, escaping the fury of a Tyrant storm all the rest being sunck and perished, and being abused by the Governour of the Haven wherinto they were driven, came also to complain unto the King for redress of his grievances, where he presently be­held Stukley, who being in high favour with the King, spoke unto his Majesty in Vernons behalf, but Vernon grieved at the sight of him, & sorry that he should still be­come the hatefull object of his sight, which he shunned, shrunk away with discontent and anger. But afterwards Stukley grew in great honour, for the King of Spain would néeds send him Ambassador to the Pope, to know if he might aid Don Sebastian him­self, in his Wars in Africa against the Bar­barians, and commanded that five thousand Ducats should be delivered to him, who though he sought to avoid so great an em­ployment, [Page] yet at last he was fain to ac­cept thereof, but when he was to receive the five thousand Ducats because there wanted twenty of the five thousand hee would receive none, but taking it as a disgrace, it was told him that the bagges would receive no more; but he imagining that the King had abridged his bounty, would receive none of them, but bid them tell the King that he would bear the charge of the Ambassage himself: So being come to Rome, he was created by the Pope Marquis of Ireland, and so contrary to his intention, he imbarks with his Italian bands for Italie; but the winds conspiring to discover his treachery, drove him a shore on the West of Barbarie, and so with Philips forces landed there, and were received into the Town of Terrill in Barbarie; at last the day came when the great battel of Alcazal was to be fought, and the earth made to blush with the blood of Spaniards and Turks, in which battel, thrée Kings (to make it a Royall field) were slain, & Stukley behaved himself to the wonder & amazement of all Nations, & to the glory of his own Coun­try, and being faint & wounded, met with Vernon, unto whom he had alwayes béen like a walking Apparition or Ghost, and ever hanted him, but now death thought to make them friends whom life could not re­concile: and now Vernon told him the sum of all his story, which was, that after he [Page] resigned up his right and title to Alderman Curtis his daughter, he did alwayes avoid his sight, because it did refresh the remem­brance of Nell, but yet still they met in Ire­land, Spain, and Rome, and now at last in Africa, and here we must part again by death. Stukley sighing said; I hope, though wee part here on earth, wee shall meet in Heaven, for Vernon, wee were alwayes friends, we bore one mind, loved one Wo­man, and breathed one air, followed one kind of life, & now we shall dye one kind of death, yet let this be our comfort, that our fame shall after death survive, and our blood mingle with the blood of Kings, and our names remembred by posterity: so hav­ing mutually asked forgiveness of each o­ther, they embraced like a pair of noble con­stant friends, and then to accomplish their Tragedy, Stuklies Souldiers mutining a­gainst him, came and found Vernon and he thus embracing, whereupon Vernon askt the furious Souldiers whether they would mutiny against their Leader, whereunto the bloody Souldiers replyed, that if Stuk­ley their leader had kept his oath which he swore unto the Pope, they had béen safe in Ireland, and had not travelled to find out a forraign grave in Africa, and therefore they would stab Stukley to the heart, that had thus brought them all to untimely deaths. When Vernon saw how they were incen­sed [Page] against his friend Stukley, he began to perswade them in his friends behalf, but sooner might he move a Lioness robbed of her young, or with soft and gentle words make the sea waves leave raging, then re­duce these souldiers to a milder temper; so that desparing of any mercy from such iron-hearted minds, he desired them that since they were bent to sacrifice their Captain to their offended wrath, they wo [...]ld fi [...]st exe­cute their wrath on him and let his blood quench their fury, and thus like another Priades he pleaded for his friend Orestes; when he had seen the faithful love of Ver­non and how he desired to die for his friend, he desired his Souldiers to hear him speak but one word: but they all cryed and said, stab him, stab him but then when words and perswasions could not take place. Vernon like a noble friend enterposes himself to save Stukley, and with his sword labours to preserve his life, but all in vain; Vertue hath his period, beyond which it cannot pass, and must be mortall here, that it may gain immortality hereafter: opprest with the multitude, like Hercules fighting with too great odds, so Vernon fighting for his friend Stukley falls in the Skirmish, and then the souldiers rushing in upon Stukley, stabb'd him to the heart, then Love & valour lying both a bléeding in the open field Stuk­ley concludes his life with these Words,

Stukley again being mortally wounded said, farewel Vernon, Fortune was and— but before he could end his spéech, his life ended, both dying one death, like the Pi­ctures of two friends, on whom an Epitaph might be writ, though the story saith, that Stukley was afterwards buried, and had a most royal Tombe built over him for his Monument; and thus lived and dyed the valiant stout Stukley.